Survival Kids is one of those Game Boy Color gems that makes you forget how tiny the screen is—within minutes, you're fully absorbed in the struggle to not starve or get mauled by wild boars. You start washed up on shore with nothing, and suddenly every twig and rock matters. The first time I played, I wasted half a day trying to figure out how to make a fishing rod while my hunger meter ticked down. Classic.

What’s cool is how open-ended it feels—you can explore caves, build traps, even tame animals if you’re patient. But the island fights back: weather changes, food spoils, and some areas are straight-up deadly until you craft better gear. I still remember the panic of realizing I’d wandered too far without a torch as night fell. It’s rough, but in that satisfying way where every small victory (like finally cooking meat without burning it) feels huge.

Honestly, it’s aged better than most GBC games—the survival mechanics hold up, and there’s something weirdly relaxing about the pixelated campfire scenes. Just don’t expect hand-holding. You’ll die. A lot. But that’s half the fun.